Have you ever wondered what Rachel Deloache Williams’s net worth is?
Rachel is a renowned writer, producer, photographer, and New York Times bestselling author. She’s best known for her book “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress,” which narrates her experience befriending and getting scammed by a con artist, Anna Sorokin.
As of May 2023, Rachel Deloache Williams’s net worth is $1.5 million.
Table of Contents
Early Life
You might have learned about Rachel from the controversies that surrounded her these past few years. So, here is a quick look at her life before featuring in the headlines:
Rachel Deloache Williams Biography
Rachel Deloache Williams was born on January 19, 1988. She was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she spent most of her childhood and teenage years.
She grew up in a devout Christian household. Her father, politician Joshua Williams, and her mother (name unknown) are both practicing clinical psychologists.
Williams went to a local private high school in Tennessee. She then attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she got her bachelor’s degree in English and Studio Art.
Even when she was little, Rachel already showed passion and aptitude for creative writing. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that she’s chosen a writing career later in her life.
As a college student, Rachel made several attempts to join the fashion and media industry. She even interned at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Harper’s Bazaar.
In 2010, after graduating from Kenyon College, Williams got an opportunity to be a part of the photo department of a magazine company, which she described as “landing her dream job.”
Rachel Deloache Williams: Anna Delvey Controversy
While working as a magazine editor, Rachel Deloache Williams befriended a con artist posing as a wealthy German heiress, Anna Delvey. A meeting that she would later regret.
In May 2017, Anna and Rachel flew to Morocco for a vacation. Compelled by the con artist, Williams unwittingly spent thousands of dollars on the trip.
Before she realized the deception, Williams had already spent over $62,000—an amount that’s way over her yearly pay grade as an editor.
In a New York Post report, Williams revealed the financial consequences of her encounter with Anna Delvey. She became racked up in debt that she couldn’t pay her rent.
After the incident, she spent six months trying to get Anna Delvey to pay. The series of unsuccessful attempts made her realize that she was scammed.
Finally, she chose to take action and reported the incident to the authorities. This act led to the arrest of New York City’s most notorious con artist, whose real name is Anna Sorokin.
Unfortunately, the jury in Anna Sorokin’s case did not find her guilty of stealing from Rachel. Thankfully, Rachel’s credit company forgave the bulk of her $62,000 debt.
Rachel then wrote a piece describing her misfortune, which she posted in Vanity Fair. Her article led to a series of works until she decided to write her bestselling book about Anna Delvey, the fake heiress.
Career
Rachel Deloache Williams’s career is far from a walk in the park. She’s endured several controversies that fundamentally changed her life.
At age 22, she decided to move from Tennessee to New York in hopes of finding a stable career. Fortunately, she immediately landed herself a position in a magazine company.
Editor and Producer
Before the issues that pulled Rachel into the spotlight, she was an editor and producer for Vanity Fair, a well-known magazine featuring stories in politics, entertainment, and news.
As a photography editor, Rachel’s job involves logistical arrangements for VIP photoshoots. She’s also responsible for reviewing and selecting photos for printing.
While working in this company, she helped organize photoshoots for their magazine issues. She got her hand on the annual mag issues of Hollywood and New Establishments.
Rachel Deloache Williams was closely working with the magazine’s leading photographers and models. She even got to work with Patti Smith, Rhianna, Caitlyn Jenner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brie Larson, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence, and many prominent Hollywood stars.
In February 2019, after over a decade of working for the company, Rachel was laid off. In an interview, she said that her “relationship with former and present Vanity Fair remains positive” and that she’s grateful for their support.
Author and Photographer
Immediately after their encounter, Rachel Deloache Williams wrote about her experience with the fake heiress. She posted it in Vanity Fair, and the magazine paid her $1,300 for her piece.
In the article “My Bright Lights Misadventure with a Magician of Manhattan,” Rachel detailed her side of the story. They published the piece in April 2018, which captured the public’s attention.
Amidst the heat of Anna Sorokin’s case, Rachel Deloache Williams started to write a book. In an interview posted on her page, she stated that writing it was the “catharsis” of her trauma.
Her memoir “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress,” became a New York Times bestseller. It even went on Time Magazine as one of the “100 must-read Books of the Year.”
The warm welcome of her first book set the stage for her career as an author. And as of now, she’s pursuing a career as a freelance writer, photographer, and creative producer.
Furthermore, she’s also used social media platforms to express her photography and brand. Her Instagram account gathered over 75 thousand followers.
Rachel Deloache Williams Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, Rachel Deloache Williams’s net worth is $1.5 million.
As a renowned writer and author, Rachel Deloache Williams’s net worth came primarily from her books and writings. She’s also running a photography, editing, and producing business.
Books and Writings
As a bestselling author, Rachel earns royalties from her book. Royalties vary depending on several factors, such as the author’s popularity and track record.
According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average annual wage of authors is around $60,000. A first-time author with a traditional publishing contract can receive over $1000 to $10,000 as an advance payment.
After publishing and “earning” their advance pay, authors will get a %5 to %18 royalty on the overall book sale. They also receive around 25% royalty for every Ebook version sold.
That said, according to a report from the Insider, Simon & Schuster (Rachel’s publisher) paid $300,000 for her book deal. The television network HBO also paid $35,000 to Rachel, for a TV project with Lena Dunham.
In addition to her book earnings, Rachel Williams works as a freelance writer. In the USA, this type of work can earn writers over $5000 per month or $68,000 per year.
Photography and Editing
Rachel Deloache Williams worked for a prestigious magazine company for a decade. Over the years, she’s worked with famous Hollywood stars.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say that she has considerable experience in the photography field. Her professional connection to prominent figures also speaks for itself.
According to Salary.com, freelancing can earn photographers an average salary of $38,000 to $51,000. Rachel Deloache Williams’s reported $1.5 million net worth is an apt estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did Rachel Deloache Williams sue Netflix?
As reported by BBC, Rachel Williams sued Netflix for portraying her as a “vile and contemptible person.” The dishonest portrayal, according to Williams, led her to receive uncharitable comments from the online community.
Did Rachel Deloach Williams get her money back?
While Anna Sorokin was found guilty of several counts of theft and grand larceny, the court didn’t find enough evidence of stealing from Rachel Williams. Fortunately, the credit card company has forgiven a large portion of her debt.
What is Rachel Deloache Williams doing now?
After her editor and producer work for Vanity Fair, Rachel Deloache Williams started her career as an author and photographer. Now, she’s running her photography and writing business online.
Key Takeaways
Earn from Your Passion
Rachel’s success proves we can turn our passion into a job that pays our bills. She’s relentlessly pursuing what she loves, and look at where she is now!
Tenacity Amidst Adversity
Rachel Delouche Williams’s story is far from a fairytale. Nevertheless, she overcame all her misfortunes with her tenacious character.
Turning Tragedy into Opportunity
Failures are inevitable as we pursue our goals and dreams. That said, we all stand to learn from how well Rachel Deloache Williams turned her tragedy into her life’s most extraordinary work.